Pressure regulating valve



Dec. 22,' 1953 N. F. CORNELIUS PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE:

Filed Sept. 29, 1949 gwvwwoo NELsoN F. CORNELIUS mmm, M

ATTORNEYS vPatented Dec. 22, 41953 UNITED sursis i *Nr oFFxcE A S-'Caims The inventionshereindisclosed:relates to prese" sui-e regulatingzv valveso and?y particularly tothe type-.f utilizing aff. vals/'efl body? having a pressurev chamberv the'reinf.subie'otf'to'V the regulated pres# surefan'dff-urth'er having-a .diaphragm partly en' clo'singfv said' chamberi.. andfurtherf utilizing a valve mechanism including a valve passageway communicating. With saidichamb'er and.' withthe sourcef-:of'nuid Whose vpressure iste :be :regulated-,1. said i passageway` F having af. valve seat' encircling the?sameandlfadapted o bescio'sed meansof a valve .headf peratd bi 1d' diaphragm' said diaphragm beingurgedby afspringct'o; move f said valve`r headfintcy ope '.position;v

An objectsof th instant inventioniresides in regulating valv furthe/type' above described-inthe pressuresof the: ui'd regulated-2 isf? m'illtainedf constant? withi'n providingapres eioseziimitsa. c

Another cb ectiofothermventionzresides in .proa

vidingsin 'ithe'reguiatingrvawef a1.-balan'cin guevice for balancing. .out theilpnessure on theva'lve'i head inf' providingi a-pressuiiefregiilating rvalvefin which chatter.' of" the.- valvei"niet:lranisrn?isgreatly.VA re'- ducedl Anf "obj ectioitheinvention lresidesfinproviding aA pressure regulatin phragmfat difieren' ocalities'aboutzfthef ri'mfof thefdiaphragm-fdoe :notilaftect thefoperationvof" the'lvalve mechanisme..

Another .objectief thefinvtionresides '.inproviding ani aligning. device for:.aligningfthevalvef head witnf theifvaliz seaiito procure. p'roper^ seat;-

ing of thevalveheadiupon theivalv'efseatx.

after 'closingfoffthe valvefne'clian in is unaffectedrbyiincrease init-hre pressure offthe` .idrt'o '1 be regulated In carrying out the. various lobjects ofni'yA invention 'f ifi provides. ai? valve fi operating? device head, wmoiivawestem 'nasa passaeway 'therein aive lin which variation in.y pressure f produced by the i. spring oni the dia'- l parts, whiohh'as the effect of reducingfvbration a tting may beisorewed' 2 communicating with the chamber Within tne valvefoperatingdevice and with the inlet to 'thepressure regulatingvalve. The diameter of said piston and cylinde'ris substantially equal to' the diameter of the circle of contact of the valve head with the valve' seat so that the pressure on the valve head tending to 'urge the valve operating member in one direction is offset by the pressure within said chamber' tending to urge they valve operating member in the opposite direc'- tion. The valve operating device is formed with a` socket `and. the'valve. stem has mounted on it. ball which. has limited swinging f movement in f the' socket whereby the'v'alvehead may be main` `tained. inalignment with the valve seat and leakage past the valveis prevented. The'piston in the valve operating device is formed with a' groove in which is disposed a rubber ring-cooperating with the' w'all 0f the cylinder to' reduce' leakage andy to'v produce friction between thev and oscillation in' the In the drawings:`

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view of an'y embodiment of the invention showing the parts positioned asin actual' use and taken on line |-I of Fig. 2;'

Fig. 271s a plan sectionalview taken on` line 2-2' 0f Fig. 1.

Fig.. 3 is anotlre'rl line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig.' 4 'is a' fragmentaryelevational sectional View taken on" line 4-dfiofiFig'..3.

The/invention comprises a'valve body l!! con-` structedtoforma valve' chamber II. withinthe same.' 'he"sa'id1 Valve'bodyhas alate'rally extendingboss'lffwhich frmed'with a passages` way i3 'through thesame. The said boss is formeoiwitnk threads is andnwwhiehfa pipe or andedapted. to comi-friuni'- l cate with' the 'passageway' I3.'

pressure regulating valve;

plan' sectional viewtaken on sure gaugel or Vother` apparatusfnot showniinthe l drawings may befscrewedr e y The chamber Ii is-open'at the topu and ris:l

formed-With a iiangeq extendingaboutfjthe; same.d` Overlying-.the'body-I is aicover 2|- which has a top 22' and which is open at the bottom.

l The passageway' i3 communicateswith' the' rchamber l l The" another Yboss L The lowermost portion of this cover has a flange 23 which overlies the flange 20. The interior of the cover 2l is designated by the reference numeral 19. The diaphragm of the pressure regulating valve is indicated by the reference numeral 24 and lies between the two flanges 20 and 23. Cap screws 25 extend through the flange 23 and are threaded into the flange 20 and serve to clamp the parts together and to form a fluid-tight connection between the diaphragm 24 and the body I0.

Attached to the diaphragm 24 is a valve operating device 26 which consists of an upper valve operating member 21 and a lower valve operating member 28. The parts 21 and 23 are formed with discs 29 and 30 which overlie thediaphragm 24 and which are clamped together by means of screws 3| which pass through the disc 29 and are screwed into the disc 36. The lower valve operating member 23 is formed with a cylindrical bore 32 which provides a chamber 33 within the same. The valve operating member 21 has a part 34 which extends into the bore 32 and which is formed with a groove 35. In this groove is disposed a ring 3E constructed of some flexible elastic material such as rubber or the like. This ring engages the top of the groove 35 and also the wall 32 and forms a fluid-tight connection between the two valve operating members 21 and 28.

The valve operating member 28 is formed at its lower end with a wall 31 having an inner spherical surface 38 and an outer` spherical surface 39 concentric with the surface 38. The surface 38 forms a socket in which is disposed a fragmentary ball 4B. This ball has a bore 4l in the same and through which the end of a valve stem 42 extends. The. ball 4i! has a sleeve 43 on the end of the same which extends down to and engages a washer 44 encircling the stem 42. The stem 42 and sleeve 43 are movable within an opening 46 in the wall 31. This washer butts up against a shoulder 45 on the valve stem 4'2. A nut 41 is screwed upon the end o the stem 42 and bears against a washer 48. This washer presses against a flexible ring 4,9 which is disposed within a groove 50 encircling the valve stem 42. Pressure on the ring 49 forces the ring against the ball 40 and the stem 42 and provides a. fluid-tight connection therewith. The ball et has a groove l in the same in which isA disposed a, flexible ring 52. This ring is similar to the rings 3S and 4S! and forms a fluid-tight connection between the ball 4B and the socket formed by the surface 38 of the valve operating member 28. The washer 4.4 hasL a surface 53 which bears against the surface 39 of the valve operating member 28 and rides upon the same. By means of this construction the valve stem 42 may swing a limited amount defined by the opening 4E and at the same time leakage between the valve stem and the valve operating member 28 is prevented.

HThe valve mechanism of the invention is indicated by the reference numeral 89 and is constructed as follows: On the end of the valve stern 42 is formed a valve head 54. This valve head is adapted to engage a valve seat 55 constructed of some relatively hard plastic material such as is now known in the art as nylon The said valve seat is in the form of an annular ring which is mounted in a holder 56. The said holder slides in a bore 51 in the boss l5 and is seated at its end against a flange 58 in the body lil and through which the passageway i6 extends. A flexible ring 59 is mounted in ak groove 6|] in the holder 5S forms a huid-tight connection between the valve seat 55 and the body i0. The valve seat `.55 is disposed in a groove El in the holder 58 and is held in place therein by means of a lip 62 which is turned baci; over the said ring. The head 54 and valve stem 42 are formed with a longitudinally extending passageway E3 which communicates with the chamber 33 and also with the inlet to the pressure regulating valve. The holder 56 is held in place by means of a nut 64 which is externally threaded to screw into threads S5 formed in the boss l5. The said nut engages the holder 5S and urges the same against the flange 58. A flexible ring 33 disposed in a recess 61 in the nut 64 forms a fluid-tight connection between said nut and the boss I5. The nut 64 has a passageway @i extending through the same and is formed with threads 68 to receive a pipe or other fitting which may be screwed into the same and which is in communication with the passageway Si. Passageway 9! when the valve head is in open position is in communication with the passageway It and thus in communication with the chamber Il. A screw driver slot S9 in the end of the valve head 54 facilitates tightening the nut 41 which is preferably of the friction type.

Extending upwardly from the disc 23 of valve operating member 21 is a boss 10. This boss and the said dise as well as the part 34 are formed with a bore 1l which communicates with the chamber 33. In this bore is mounted a piston i2. This piston is held from axial movement by means of a screw 13. The screw 13 has a collar 14 on it which butts up against the inner surface of the top 22 of cover 2l and restrains outward longitudinal movement of said screw. The piston 1'2 has a head "a5 which engages the end of the screw 13. In this manner the piston 12 is held from endwise movement while the valve operating member 21 may move relative thereto. To form a fluid-tight joint between the piston 12 and the bore 1l a flexible ring 1E is employed. This ring fits within a groove 11 in the piston 12. The said ring in addition to forming a tight connection between the piston and cylinder also provides sufficient friction to reduce the tendency of the device to vibrate or oscillate.

The pressure regulating valve utilizes a heavy compression spring 18 which is disposed within the interior 'it of the cover 2l. This spring is seated at one end against the disc 2Q of the valve operating member 2d and at its other end against a disc BQ disposed within the interior 19. This. disc has a boss 3| which is threaded to screw upon threads of the screw 13. The disc 8D, as best shown in Fig. 2, has lugs 82 formed on the same and which are received in keyways 83 formed in the cover proper. This prevents rotation of the disc. The screw 13 has a shank S4 which is rotatable in a bearing 85 formed in a boss 8s issuing upwardly from the top 22 of cover 2l. The shank 84 has a screw driver slot 81 by means of which the screw 13 may be rotated.

The parts of the invention when the pressure regulating valve is in use and when no fluid is being drawn are as shown in the drawings. In such case the pressure in chamber Il offsets the pressure of spring 18 and holds the valve head 54 seated against seat 55. When the pressure regulating Valve is not in use the disc 30 is forced against a shoulder 88 formed in the body lll. This takes the pressure olf from the diaphragm 24 and prevents injury to said diaphragm. In

use when the pressiure` within.'the chamber ti. dropsv therequired amount, spring r1.8. forces the4 diaphragm 2,4 downvvardlsi and opens `the. valre mechanism 89. This allowsrluidto passbiweell valve head i4-and the-seatfdfandinto. Vthe chamber i I. At the same time, iiuidunder pressure is directed into the chamber 3 3. Inthis` chamber the pressure in one direction isE exerted against the piston 'i2' which is iixed andin the opposite direction against theA nutv 4J tending to urge said nut and the valve stem 4 2; downwardly. At. the same time pressure in the passagewayf'i, acts on he valve head .Stand urges the valve headid .upwardly. rIhe diameter-ofthe bore 'lil is thesame as the diameter of the portion'ot the seat, 55 enfgaged by the valve head, 5.4., In thisgmannerfthe effective area of the piston is, equal tothe areaof contact of the valve heady M Withvalve seat55 and the two pressuresA neutralize each other .and are balanced out and the valve head 5dA floats. The opening and closing of the valve. mechanism 89` is hence controlled solely by the diaphragm 2li. By the arrangement of the kball 40. and .the socket formed in the wall 31 of the valve member 273 the valve head 54Amay swingl from side to side and adjust itself with reference to the.. valveseat 55. In this manner perfect .closing :of the valve mechanism 8 9 is procured and without strain on the supporting parts for the valve head.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The device is highly efficient Yand eliminates the usual difficulties encountered with pressure regulating valves. With .the invention leakage .at all points is prevented. Friction between the ring and the piston ,'procuressuicient.drag to prevent the device from oscillatingor vibrating as would otherwise be the result. Since/the pressure on the valve head is compensated. for .by the Ypressure in thechamber communicating with the valve operating .device and cylinder, thefvalve head virtually iioats andzis .responsive .only vto variations in pressure in the vvalve chamber. In this manner fluctuation inthe pressure lin fthe inlet are nottransmitted to the valve head and far more accurate 4control is procured than `would otherwise be possible. It will be4 noted that the sealing rings. used with .the invention prevent leakage at any point with respect to` the various parts of the same. .By means lof the aligning mechanism the valve head .can be made to adjust itself to the seat and 'to effect positive closing regardless of the angularityof the -valve operating member of the invention .occasioned lthrough spring pressure being exerted on one side ofthe rim of the valve operating l.valvei-n excess ofthe pressure exerted on another Vside thereo' Changes in `the .specific-'form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the .scope of what lisclaimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.` i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new` and desire to Yprotect -by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a pressure regulating valve, a body having a valve chamber and an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith,-a valve seat having an .opening therethroug-hv communicating `with said chamber and inlet, a diaphragm mounted in said body and having uid communication with said outlet, a valve operating member carried by said diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve seat upon flexing of the diaphragm, resilient means for urging said valve operating member toward said valve seat, a valve stem extending through said valve seat, and attached to area of said. valves atatpthe ldealitv of; con.-

tact with the vali/aheadandservine to balance the inlet, pressure .acting onthe. valve head. said expansible chamber enlarging Upon. movement ,ofithe valve operating :member toward Athe valve seat and; meansfforming .afpassag-ewavfor bringe. ing saidl expansible. chambercinto, communication with said inlet.`

2;. In a pressureregulating valve, a body hav.- i-ng a valve cham-ber and: an4 inlet and an outlet communicating therewith, ,a valveseat having :an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber and inlet, ,a .diaphragm mounted in said body and having, fluid .communication with said outlet, a valve operating member carried bysaid diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve .seat upon flexingy of the diaphragm, re.- silient means for urging' .said val-ve operating member toward said valve seat, .a valve stem eX- tending through ,said valve-seat .and attached to said valveoperating member, .a value. head carried by vsaid valve. stem and engageable -with said valve seat, a .cylinder lformedin said valve operating member extending vin the` Asame.direction as said valve stem, a piston insaid cylinder,an abutment for restraining movement of AsaidI piston in one direction relativeito ,saidI body, andmeans for bringing said cylinder into :communication with said Yinlet to .subject the Y.piston fto inletpressure and vurge it towardasaid-abu'tment, 4said cylinderbeing of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of said valve 'seats-at the ilocaljity-ot contact withy saidvalve .headfto balancethe inlet pressure vactingon the valve lhead.'

'3. vIn a pressure regulating valve, -a Ibody halving a valve .chamber andan finlet andan outlet communicating therewith, La valve seat having an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber `and inlet, Va diaphragm mounted in said body and having nuidcom-munieation with said outlet, a valve operating ymember -Acarried by said diaphragm and -mova'blel toward and from y said valve .seat upon nearing-:of the diaphragm, 1re?- silient means for urging said valve operatirig member toward said -`valveseat,ja. 'va;1hve' st e'm erg-f tending through said vajlvefseat, and att cned to said valve operating member, e :valve ad Y,care ried by said valve stem and enga-geablewith` said valvesseat means formingan eirpa'nsible chamber associated with the valveoperating r'nember and operated Atherebyeand includinga -part restrained from movement I:relative to said 'body and a part movable relative .to isa'idfbodyfand movable with f said voperating member, said expansiblechamber enlarging Vupon lmovement .of the valve operating device toward :theavalve seat, said parts having an :effective .area equal substantially to the area offsaid valve seatiat :the llocali-ty of contact'- with the valvejhead, said-vaiveistem having apassageway therein communicating with =said-expansible chamber and said inlet and producing a pressure within said operating member offsetting the pressure on said valve head.

4. In a pressure regulating valve, a body having a valve chamber and an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith, a circular valve seat having an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber and inlet, a diaphragm mounted in said body and having fluid communicating with said outlet, a valve operating member carried by said diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve seat upon flexing of the diaphragm, resilient means for urging said valve operating member toward said valve seat, a valve stem extending through said valve seat and attached to said valve operating member, a valve head carried by said valve stem and engageable with said valve seat, a cylinder formed in said valve operating member extending in the same direction as said valve stem, a piston in said cylinder, means for holding said piston from axial movement relative to said body, means for bringing said cylinder into communication with said inlet, said cylinder being of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of said valve seat at the locality of contact with said valve head.

5. In a pressure regulating valve, a body having a valve chamber and an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith, a valve seat having an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber and inlet, a, diaphragm mounted in said body and having fluid communication with said outlet, a valve operating member carried by said diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve seat upon exing of the diaphragm, resilient means for urging said valve operating member toward said valve seat, a valve stem extending through said valve seat and attached to said valve operating member, a valve head carried by said valve stem and engageable with said valve seat, a cylinder formed in said valve operating member extending in the same direction as said valve stem, a piston in said cylinder, an abutment for restraining movement of said piston in one di rection relative to said body, said valve stem having a passageway therein communicating with said cylinder and said inlet, said cylinder being of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of said valve seat at the locality of contact with said valve head and serving to balance the inlet pressure acting on the valve head.

6. In a pressure regulating valve, a body having a valve chamberand an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith, a valve seat having an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber and inlet, a diaphragm mounted in said body and having fluid communication with said outlet, a valve operating member carried by said diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve seat upon flexing of the diaphragm, resilient means for urging said valve operating member toward said valve seat, a valve stem extending through said valve seat, a, Valve head mounted on said valve stem and engageable with said valve seat upon movement toward said diaphragm, said operating member having at its lower end a wall formed with inner and outer concentric spherical surfaces, said inner surface providing a socket within said operating member, said wall having a central opening through which said valve stem extends, a ball slidably mounted on said valve stem and disposed within said socket, a washer xed relative to said valve stem and having a surface engaging the outer spherical surface of said operating device and meansY within said operating member carried by said valve stem and resisting movement of said ball away from said inner surface of the wall of the operating member.

7. In a pressure regulating valve, a body having a valve chamber and an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith, a valve seat having an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber and inlet, a diaphragm mounted in said body and having fluid communication with said outlet, a valve operating member carried by said diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve seat upon flexing of the diaphragm, resilient means for urging said valve operating member toward said valve seat, a valve stem extending through said valve seat, a valve head mounted on said valve stem and engageable with said valve seat upon movement toward said diaphragm, said operating member having at its lower end a wall formed with inner and outer concentric spherical surfaces, said inner surface providing a socket within said operating member, said wall having a central opening through which said valve stem extends, a ball slidably mounted on said valve stem and disposed within said socket, a washer fixed relative to said valve stem and having a surface engaging the outer spherical surface of said operating device and a nut screwed on the end of said Valve stem and resisting movement of said ball away from said inner surface.

8. In a pressure regulating valve, a body having a valve chamber and an inlet and an outlet communicating therewith, a valve seat having an opening therethrough communicating with said chamber and inlet, a diaphragm mounted in said body and having fiuid communication with said outlet, a valve operating member carried by said diaphragm and movable toward and from said valve seat upon iiexing of the diaphragm, resilient means for urging said valve operating member toward said valve seat, a valve stem extending through said valve seat and attached to said valve operating member, a valve head Carried by said valve stem and engageable with said valve seat, over an area having an outer line of contact, means forming an expansible chamber associated with the valve operating member and operated thereby and including a part restrained from movement relative to said body and a part movable relative to said body and movable with said operating member, means forming a passageway bringing said expansible chamber into communication with the inlet the area of said restrained part being substantially equal to the area of the geometric figure bounded by the outer line of contact of said valve head with said valve seat.

NELSON F. CORNELIUS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l 1,897,061 Lapp Feb. 14, 1933 1,954,930 Greenlee Apr. 17, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 749,705 France of 1933 

